214 OLB CIVILISATIONS OF THE NEW WORLD
monies. As the sun set,, the Indians lighted flaring
torches and gathered In a great throng about
the ceremonial house. Drums boomed, flutes and
whistles shrilled and rattles shook, until the combined
sounds rose to a deafening roar. Then, slowly at
first, but with ever increasing speed* the Indians com-
menced dancing round and round the temple, chant-
ing in unison, keeping time to the throbbing drums
and piping flutes, and alternately stooping low or
leaping up in regular order until the moving stream
of figures appeared like an immense serpent gliding
in sinuous curves about the building. This, in fact,
was exactly what It was supposed to represent, for
the ceremonial was a feast in honor of the Plumed
Serpent god of the ancient Aztecs. Suddenly the
music stopped, and silently the dancers slipped away
and vanished within the sacred precincts of the tem-
ple. From within came a weird chant, a wailing ca-
dence, and the slow measured beat of drums. I was
of course anxious to enter and witness what was tak-
ing place, but Neonandi cautioned me against it. The
evil spirits were being driven out, he explained, and
if I went near they might take possession of me.
Presently the music and chanting ceased, Neo-
nandi touched my arm and, beckoning for me to fol-
low him, led the way into the building. Within, the
beams and rafters were draped with flowers, birds*
skins, jaguar and ocelot pelts and streamers of dyed
cotton cloth. In the center stood an altar-like table
piled high with every variety of food known to the
Guaymis and decorated with corn-stalks, flower-
covered coffee-tree branches, sugar-cane flowers and
brilliant orchids, G-uttering torches cast a fitful